Cinematographic target



Jan. 27, 1942. I. F. MANDELL 2,271,199

CINEMATOGRAPHIC TARGET Filed Feb. 8, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTOR/ VEY Jan. 27, 1942. I. F. MANDELL CINEMATOGRAPHIC TARGET 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 8, 1941 alum JV V N70/E M /Z$ ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 27, 1942 CINEDIATOGRAPHIC TARGET Irving F. Mandell, New Brunswick, N. J assignor to Lydia B. Koch, New York, N. Y.

Application February 8, 1941, Serial No. 378,027

8 Claims.

The invention relates to cinematographic targets, and more particularly to a target wherein movable back plates are dispensed with, and the switch mechanisms controlling the operation of the projector are actuated as a result of the impact of a bullet with the movable screen upon which the picture is projected.

Targets of the type to which that of my invention relates have been used in shooting galleries located in military camps, such targets having had aplurality of pendulous, heavy metal back plates which, when moved by the impact of a bullet therewith, actuated a switch mechanism causing the interruption of the circuit for operating the moving picture projector.

The use of such back plates has been found to result in a heavy structure involving many duplicated complicated mechanisms which were not only expensive to install, but required the frequent services of skilled mechanics to keep the apparatus in proper working condition. Furthermore, the operation of the switch mechanisms, when controlled by pendulous metal back plates, sufiiciently heavy to withstand deformation from the impact of bullets therewith, was not dependable and was subject to variation with different weapons.

I With the use of back plates of the character above referred to, there was also a lack of accuracy in the recording of the score of the marksman, since the stoppage of the projector due to the distance between the screen andthe back plates and inertia in a heavy back plate, occurred following a slight interval after the bullet had struck the image upon the target, which interval, while slight, might under some conditions register a complete miss when, in fact, the bullet may have actually passed through a part of the moving image.

With the above conditions inmind, I have this back platemay embody therein material which will prevent spattering or splashing of the bullet upon impact therewith and thus prevent j possible interference with the continued operation of the mechanisms of the target by a fragmentary portion of the bullet. In fact, even if there should be some slight spattering or splashing of a bullet, the parts thereof will be so spent as to do little or no damage to the mechanical parts of the structure. However, the arrangement of parts is such as to protect the essential parts of the mechanism from particles of lead, dueto the splashing of a bullet, in the event that it actually does strike some part of the structure because of the angle of fire.

The screen used in the target of the invention consists of a web of paper or similar rupturable The projector being stopped by the movement of provided an improved target structure wherein the actuation of a switch mechanism causing the interruption of the circuit for operating the projector is effected by the movement of the rupturable screen material itself, upon the impact of a bullet therewith. In the target structure of the invention, no movable back plate structure is employed, and in fact no back plate structure of any kind is required in the target structure if thelocation of the target is such as to afford other means rearwardly thereof for stopping the flight of the bullet after passing through the screen.

Since, it a back plate is used in the structure, its sole function is to arrest flight ofxthe bullet,

the screen as a bullet passes therethrough, the image fired at will be stationary at the time these light rays pass through the opening, so that the accuracy of the fire may be recorded.

It has been found that resistance to the passage of a bullet throughthe several plies of the screen, offered by the material of this screen and the guide rollers at the top and bottom of the screen, is not sufficiently great to cause a bodily, substantially parallel movement of the screen rearwardly of the target structure, but that such resistance is suflicient to cause the cupping or bellying of the screen to an extent to cause slight lateral movement of the edges thereof,or movement inwardly of the shadow box. It is this movement which is utilized in the operation of the target to causeactuation of av switch or switches for causing the stoppage of the projector.

By using a number of switch mechanismsand switch actuating mechanisms along the edge portions of the screen adjacent the inner face of the frame forming the sight opening, the operation of some one of thesev switch mechanisms is assured irrespective of the point of impact of the bullet with the screen.

The amount of lateral movement of the screen will not be great, but it is possible to obtain on that they can be reliably operated with a movement of one of the contact members of only a few thousandths of an inch, and by the use of ef-' fective leverage in the switch actuating member, little difficulty is experienced in securing the required quantity of movement of the movable switch member with the small lateral movement of the runs of the screen.

The construction is such that the switch actuating mechanisms may be used to hold the parallel reaches of the web forming the screen in close contacting relation throughout the entire area thereof exposed through the sight opening, thus employing the combined action of these reaches in offering resistance to the passage of a bullet therethrough.

The arrangement of the various switch contacts is such that they will be protected against possible stray bullets by the material of the shadow box'or frame of the sight opening, and be protected from the back against possible spattering or splashing of bullets by locating the housings carrying same in close proximity to the back of the frame. I

The invention consists primarily in a cinematographic target embodying therein a target structure comprising a main frame, a frame forming a sight opening having vertically extending side bars, a plurality of guide rollers above and below said sight opening frame, a support for a roll of continuous web passing about said guide rollers in closely adjacent parallel reaches, a rewind mechanism for said web, a switch mechanism rearwardly of said sight opening frame for controlling a circuit for the operation of a projector, and actuating means embodying therein a laterally movable member operative upon a movable contact of said switch mechanism and engageable with the face 'of the innermost reach and adjacent the edge of the plies of said movable web, whereby said switch mechanism will be. actuated as a'result of bulging of said web from resistance to the passage of a bullet therethrough; and in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims here to appended.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is-a perspective View of a target embodying the invention with parts thereof broken away;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the target shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of'one of the switches and switch actuating mechanisms with the back of thehousing broken away;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the 'mechanisms shown-in Fig. 3; v

Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram of a circuit controlled by the switch mechanism with the various switches connected in parallel; and

Fig. 6 is asimilar wiring diagram with the various switches connected'in series, this circuit including a relay for controlling the circuit to'the projector.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

A target embodying the invention consists of a main frame It! which may be of light angle iron or steel construction of the type common with targets of this character. At the upper part of the front of the main frame is a frame ll forming a sightopening indicated at l2, The side bars Iii-l3 of this sight opening frame extend vertically of the target structure and have a smooth vertical rear surface.

Adjacent the bottom of the main frame structure Hi at each side thereof, are brackets [4 having bearing openings for the shaft l5 of a roll l6 of paper web.

Rearwardly of the main frame structure I0 is a rewind roller H, the web from the roll 16 passing therefrom about a'guide roller 18, upwardly to and about an upper guide roller l9, thus forming a front reach 20 extending across the sight opening in the frame H. The web, after leaving the roller 19, is guided by a roller 2| toward the top of the structure to a plane parallel with the reach 20, and run to and about a lower guide roller '22, the portion thereof extending across the frame H being in a reach "23 parallel, and in practically abutting relation, with the front reach 20. After passing about the guide roller 22, the web passes about a guide roller 24 upwardly in a reach 25 across thesight opening in the frame ll, in parallel and substantiallyengaging-relation with the reach #23, to an upper guide roller 26. h

This 'arran'gement and run of the three parallel reaches of the web is old and well known in this art, and is use'din the present'structure for the same purpose as I in prior art 's'tructuresybut has one function not present inprior structures.

This added function is th'e stiffening of the various reaches to an extent to cause themto conjoiritly present s'ufiicient resistance "to cause the cupping or 'bellying of the three reaches during the passage of a bullet therethrough, to an extent to cause the operation of an "electrical control device for stopping the operation of the projector as a result of the movement .'of the web within the sight opening from such impact.

The web, after leaving the guide roller 26, passes about an upper guide roller-21 and down-'- wardly about a guide roller 28 adjacent the rewind roller 11. Said rewind roller l1 rests upon guide rollers 28 and 29;

Apres'ser roller-3D carried by a weighted arm Bl bears upon the rewind roller H to assist in flattening the roughened edges of anyperforations in the paper, so as to facilitatethe rewin'ding of the web compactly upon said rewind roll. A similar presser roller 32 acts in com junction with the guide roller -28 for assisting in maintaining a straight run '-of the web and pressing down any projecting edges about bullet openings.

'Ihis rewin'd rn'echanism may take a wide variety of different forum.

Carried by the sh'aftof the guide roller 2-8 is a gear -33 enmeshed "with a pinion 34 of a speed reducing mechanism '35 actuated by an electric motor 35. In this mannerthe 'web 'may be continuously fed 'in three parallel reaches across the sight opening 12 0f the frame at a ve'ry slow speed, so :as to permit the openings through the parallel reaches to be slowly brought out'oftregister with each other while affording sufficient time to permit markingtm accuracy of the fire. The reachesill :and 25 pass upwardly of the target while the intermediate reach 23 passes downwardly.

The reach of the web between-the guide rollers 21 and 28 is indicated by the reference numeral -3'l. This arrangement not only permits the conveni'ent locating of the rewind mechanism,but also provides a reflecting surface rearwardly of the "sight opening l2 againstiwhich light rays from'a lamp"38- are directed. The use o'f-such a lamp in such a location, and'of a reflecting back reach 31 is old in the art.

In fact, the general construction and arrangement of the mechanisms heretofore described is old and well known.

Unlike prior target structures which have been used, that heretofore described .has no pendulous back plates movable upon the impact of a bullet therewith to control the operation of the projector through a switchmechanism actuated by the movement of a pendulous back plate. In fact, in the present structure, no back plate of any kind need be used, unless the location of the target is such as to make it necessary toprovide some means for stopping a bullet after it passes through the various reaches of the web.

In the drawings, I have shown at 39 a plate at the back of the main frame 10, immovably fixed to this frame, this plate being of a size to stop any bullet passing through the sight opening I2.

Below and forwardly of this plate is a tray 40 to keep any spent bullets from dropping into the rewind mechanism and interfering with a proper operation thereof or a proper rewinding of the web upon the roller l1.

In the accompanying drawings, I have not illustrated the projector or the control mechanisms therefor, since such are well known in the art and form no part of the present invention.

To permit the utilization of the screen itself for causing the actuation of the operating mechanism for the projector in order to stop the projector to permit the marking of accuracy of the fire, I provide various switch mechanisms which are actuated as a result of the movement of the screen from resistance to the passage of a bullet therethrough or from the impact of a bullet therewith.

As I have heretofore stated, movement of the screen in the direction of movement of the bullet cannot be relied upon for this purpose.

I In actual practice, the portion of the screen visible through the sight opening may have a width and height of approximately eight feet, according to the dimensions of the film used, and the fire may be directed at any part of this screen.

A bullet passing through the screen adjacent the center thereof would have little or no tendency to move the side edges of the screen inwardly or rearwardly of the frame ll. It is obvious that the switch mechanisms must be located outside of the sight opening.

The impact of a bullet with the screen at any portion thereof, however, will have a tendency to force the entire screen rearwardly at the point of impact of the bullet therewith, the effect being a rearward bulging or bellying of the screen from the point of impact of the bullet laterally of the structure. This bulging cannot occur except as the result of lateral movement of the edge portions of the screen, or movement of such portions toward the sight opening.

To take advantage of this lateral movement of the screen, I provide switches at spaced distances along and within the opposite side bars l3 of the frame H, and provide adjacent each of these switches an actuating mechanism the operative moment of which results from the lateral movement of the screen adjacent the edges thereof.

The switch mechanism I employ is a well known form of switch mechanism, knownas a micro switch, the opening or closing of the contacts of which requires a movement of only a few thousandths of an inch.

.The housing for such mechanisms is shown at 4| and the switch mechanisms within this housing at 42.

The number and spacing of such mechanisms of course may vary, according to the size of the target and the material of the web.

The construction of the switch mechanism is immaterial to the present invention and is therefore not shown in detail, beyond the movable member 43 for actuating same.

The housing 4| has an open face presented toward and closely adjacent the innerwall of a side bar I3, leaving merely suflicient clearance for the run of the various plies 20, 23 and 25 of the web.

Mounted within the housing 4| is a pivoted block 44, the stud 45 upon which this block is mounted extending perpendicularly to the plane of the rear of the bar l3 so as to permit pivotal movement of this block with lateral movement of the edge portion of the screen.

Pivotally mounted on this block is a lever 46, one arm 41 of which is located in operative relation to the member 43, and the other arm of which is forked at 48 and has mounted therein a roller 49 provided with a friction surface 50. A spring 5| carried by the block 44 and acting on the lever 46 biases said roller towards and into engagement with the reach 25 of the movable screen. 1

The axis of a pivot 52 supporting the lever 46 is parallel to the back of the side bar [3 and the various reaches 20, 23 and 25.

- Referring particularly to Fig. 3 of the drawings, the movement of the. edge portions of the reaches, under the force of-the impact of a bullet, will'be to the right, so that a stop 53 will limit the movement of the block 44 about its bearing stud 45, a spring 54 acting upon the lever 46 being provided to impart a return movement to this block.

The movement of the lever 45 about the pivot 52 is merely to. compensate for irregularities in the thickness of the web, or possible temporary wrinkling of this web, as the vertical stresses thereon remove the bulge or belly in the web. The roller 49-and the spring 54 assist in, restoring the straight run of the web.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings I have shown a wiring arrangement for the various switch mechanisms 42 in which all of these switch mechanisms associated with the target are connected in parallel, so that the closing of any switch, or any number of such switches, will energize the control mechanism for the projector so as to cause the stoppage thereof as a result of the lateral movement oftlie edge portion of the screen in the manner above described.

In Fig. 6, I have shown an electrical diagram in which all of said switches 42 are connected in series, so that the opening of any switch will interrupt the circuit to a relay 55 controlling a local circuit to the control mechanism of the projector.

The operation of a target embodying the invention is substantially as follows:

While the target is in use, power is continuously applied to the motor 36 of the rewind mechanism, so as to impart a continuous slow travel to the web through the structure, the front reach 20 upon which the picture is projected traveling upwardly, the intermediate reach 23 traveling downwardly and the rearward reach 25 travelingupwardly.

-A bulletpassing through the three reaches of the screen will make a ragged opening from a half to three-quarters of an inch in dimensions,

knowmthe structure of the present invention differing from that of the prior art in the respects that there are no pendulous back plates and the "circuit controlling the operation or stoppage of the projector is opened or closed, according to whether the various switch mechanisms are connected in series or in paralleLas a result .of the lateral, physical displacement of the screenitself.

By utilizing the screen for this purpose, the

closest approximation of the stoppage of theprojector simultaneously with the impact of a bullet With the screen is secured, and the timing is as nearly perfect as can be attained.

The elimination of the movable back plate structure not only reduces the number and weight of parts, but avoids all those difficulties arising from wear and tear upon these back plates and a possible disarrangement of the various electrical devices associated with the several movable back plates.

By utilizing the screen itself as the activating agency for the control switches, complication in the construction of the mechanism is not only avoided and hundreds of parts dispensed with, but'greater reliability and dependability in the operation of the structure is assured.

The installation of a structure embodying the invention is very much simplified as compared with earlier structures, and little or no attention is required in servicing the structure. Injury to the various mechanisms resulting from the spattering or splashing of bullets is practically eliminated.

When a bullet strikes the screen at any portion thereof, the resistance offered by three closely adjacent plies of the web will force these plies inwardly, and this movement of the screen can occur only as a result of lateral movement of the web, which will be greatest adjacent the edges thereof.

This lateral movement of the web, by reason of the friction surface 59 upon the roller 49, rocks the lever 46 in the direction of movement of the web, due to the impact of a bullet, and the arm thereof adjacent the actuating member 43 of the micro switch will have sufficient movement to actuate said switch and thus interrupt the functioning of the projector through the control mechanisms with which said projector is provided.

Immediately following the actuation of the switch mechanism, the lever 48 receives a return movement, which, with the continued run of the web, will, in a very short interval, restore the web to its normal condition or remove the bulge or belly therein.

By providing a mounting for the roller 49 permitting universal movement of this roller, the roller ispermitted to have the desired frictional contact with the moving web atall times, and

:be effectively utilized in actuating the control switch, irrespective of the point of impact of the bullet with the screen.

It is not my intention to limit the invention .to the precise details of construction shown in the accompanying drawings, it being obvious that such may be varied without departing from the spirit of the scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is:

1. A cinematographic target embodying therein a target structure comprising a main frame, a frame forming a sight opening having vertically extending side bars, a plurality of guide rollers above and below said sight opening frame, a support for a roll of continuous web passing about said'guide rollers in closely adjacent parallel reaches, a rewind mechanism for said web, a switch mechanism rearwardly of said sight opening frame for controlling a circuit for the operation of a projector, and actuating means embodying therein a laterally movable member operative upon a'movable contact of said switch mechanism and engageable with the face of the innermost reach and adjacent the edge of the plies of said movable web, whereby said switch mechanism will be actuated as a result of bulging of said web from resistance to the passage of a bullet therethrough.

2. A cinematographic target embodying there'- in a target structure'comprising a main frame, a frame forming a sight opening having vertically extending side bars, a plurality of guide rollers above and below said sight opening frame, a support for a roll of continuous web passing about said guide rollers in closely adjacent parallel reaches, a rewind mechanism for said Web, a switch mechanism rearwardly of said sight opening frame for controlling a circuit for the operation of a projector, a block mounted for pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the side bars of said sight opening frame, and means carried thereby and engageable with said switch mechanism and frictionally engageable with the edge portion of said movable web, whereby movement of the edge portion of'the web inwardly of the sight opening frame will actuate said switch mechanism.

3. A cinematographic target embodying therein a target structure comprising a main frame, a

frame forming a sight opening having vertically extending side bars, a plurality of guide rollers above and below said sight opening frame,'a support for a roll of continuous web passing about said guide rollers in closely adjacent parallel reaches, a rewind mechanism for said web, a

switch mechanism rearwardly of said sight opening frame for controlling a circuit for the operation of a projector, a block mounted for pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the side bars of said sight opening frame, a lever mounted upon said block for pivotal movement about an axis'parallel with the plane of said side bars, one arm of said lever being operative upon a movable contact of said friction means into engagement with the edge' portion of said web, whereby said friction means may have movement toward or from said side bar, and movement of the edge portion of the web inwardly of the sight opening frame will actuate said switch mechanism.

4. A cinematographic target embodying therein a target structure comprising a main frame, a frame forming a sight opening having vertically extending side bars, a plurality of guide rollers above and below said sight opening frame, a support for a roll of continuous web passing about said guide rollers in closely adjacent parallel reaches, a rewind mechanism for said web, a switch mechanism rearwardly of said sight opening frame for controlling a circuit for the operation of a projector, a block mounted for pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the side bars of said sight open-' ing frame, a lever mounted upon said block for pivotal movement about an axis parallel with the plane of said side bars, one arm of said lever being. operative upon a movable contact of said switch mechanism, a roller'carried by the other arm of said lever, a friction surface about said roller, and means biasing said roller into engagement with the edge portion of said web, whereby said roller may have movement toward or from said side bar, and movement of the edge portion of the web inwardly of the sight opening fram will actuate said switch mechanism.

5. A cinematographic target embodying therein a target structure comprising a main frame, a frame forming a sight opening having vertically extending side bars, a plurality of guide rollers above and below said sight opening frame, a

support for a roll of continuous web passing about said guide rollers in closely adjacent parallel reaches, a rewind mechanism for said web, a switch mechanism rearwardly of said sight opening frame for controlling a circuit for the operation of a projector, a block mounted for pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the side bars of said sight opening frame, a lever mounted upon said block for pivotal movement about an axis parallel with the plane of said side bars, one arm of said lever in a target structure comprising a main frame, a

being operative upon a movable contact of said I switch mechanism, a roller carried by the other arm of said lever, a friction surface about said roller, means biasing said roller into engagement with the edge portion of'said web, whereby said roller may have movement toward or from said side bar, and movement of the edge portion of the web inwardly of the sight opening framewill actuate said switch mechanism, a stop limiting movement of said lever by said web, and a spring,

operative to impart return movement to said lever after actuation of said switchmechanism.

6. A cinematographic target embodying therein a target structure comprising a main frame, a frame forming a sight opening having vertically extending side bars, a plurality of guide rollers above and below said sight opening frame, a

support for a roll of continuous web passing about said guide rollers in closely adjacent parallel reaches, a rewind mechanism for said web, a

plurality of switch mechanisms mounted in spaced relation to each other rearwardly of each side bar of said sight opening frame, each of said switch mechanisms being capable of controlling a circuit common to all of saidswitch mechanisms for the operation of a projector, and actuating means for each of said switch mechanisms embodying therein a member operative upon a movable contact of said switch mechanism and engageable with the edge of the plies of said movable web, whereby said switch mechanism will be actuated as a result of movement of said web from resistance to'the passage of a bullet therethrough.

7. A cinematographic target embodying thereframe forming a sight opening having vertically extending side bars, a plurality of guide'rollers above and below said sight opening frame, a sup port for a roll of continuous web passing about said guide rollers in closely adjacent parallel reaches, a rewind mechanism for said web, a

plurality of switch mechanisms mounted the spaced relation to each other rearwardly of each side bar of said sight opening frame, an electric circuit, the closing of which will cause the stop page of the operation of the projector, said switch mechanisms respectively being connected in parallel in said circuit, and'actuating means for each of said switch mechanisms embodying therein a member operative upon a movable contact of said switch mechanism and engageable with the edge of the plies of said movable web,

whereby said switch mechanism will be actuated as a result of movement of said web from resist ance to the passage of a bullet therethrough.

8. A cinematographic target embodying therein a target structure comprising a main frame, a frame forming a sight opening having vertically extending side bars, a plurality of guide rollers above and below said sight opening frame, a sup port for a roll of continuous web passing about said guide rollers in closely adjacent parallel reaches, a rewind mechanism for said web, a

\ plurality of switch mechanisms mounted in spaced relation to each other rearwardly of each side 1 bar of said sight opening frame, an electric circuit including therein a normally open relay, said switch mechanisms being connected in series with said circuit, and a second circuit controlled by said relay adapted to be connected with means for stopping the operation of a projector, and actuating means for each ofsaid switch mechanisms embodying therein a member operative upon a movable contact of said switch mechanism and engageable with the edge of the plies of said movable web, whereby said switch mechanism will be actuated as a result of movement of said web from resistance to the IRVING F. MANDELL.

passage of a 

